Hand-held dispenser with two containers and two valves



United States Patent 3,341,082 9/1967 Meshberg inventor Appl. No.

Filed Patented Assignee Herbert G. Lehmann Eastou, Connecticut June 14, 1968 Dec. 1, 1970 Valve Corporation of America Bridgeport, (Zonnecticut a corporation of Delaware HAND-HELD DISPENSER WITH TWO CONTAINERS AND TWO VALVES 5 Clalms, 6 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl. 222/94, 222/l44.5,222/145; l37/625.12

lnt. Fl B65d 35/22 Field of Search ..222/ 136(up).

144.5(up), 145(up), 94(up); l37/625.l2(up), 630.l5(up) References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 3 ,455,489 7/1969 Meshberg 222/94 3,015,420 2/1962 Chudnow ZZZ/144.5 3,021,870 2/1962 Allen 137/625.l2 3,217,936 11/1965 Abplanalp 222/145 3,295,727 l/l 967 Kates et a1. 222/136 3,325,056 6/1967 Lewis 222/94 Primary Examiner- Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-H. S. Lane Attorney-H. Gibner Lehmann ABSTRACT: A dispenser with dual valves and multiple containers, comprising a tubular valve housing having an annular seat for a poppet valve, a cylindrical bore to accommodate a slide or spool valve, and a valve stem longitudinally movable in the housing and having poppet and spool valve portions for simultaneously closing and opening the valves. The housing has a side passage, and is at one end carried in the neck of a pressurized container in which there is also a flexible bag connected to the other housing end. Different liquids in the container and bag are mixed and discharged when the valve stem is fully shifted to open the valves, or if the stem is only partially shifted there occurs a discharge of only one liquid.

Patented Dec.1, 1970 I 3,543,965

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HAND-HELD DISPENSER WITH TWO CONTAINERS AND TWO VALVES CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS l. Copending application of William R. O'Donnell entitled Hand-Held Dispenser With Dual Valve, U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 692,757, filed Dec. 22, 1967, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,525,997 and having common ownership with the present application.

2. Copending application of William R. O'Donnell entitled l-land-Held Dispenser With Dual Valve, U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 707,264 filed Feb. 21, l968, not U.S. Pat. No. 3,503,539 and having common ownership with the present application.

3. Copending application of Herbert G. Lehmann entitled Hand-Held Dispenser With Mixing Valves, U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 721,865, filed Apr. 16, 1968, now'U.S. Pat.

No. 3,499,581 and having common ownership with the tion Ser. No. 737,092 filed June 14, 1968 and having common ownership with the present application.

PRIOR ART OF INTEREST l. U.S. Pat. No. 2,973,883 2. U.S. Pat. No. 3,217,936 3. U.S. Pat No. 3,241,722 4. U.S. Pat. No. 3,272,389 U 6 U .8. Pat. No. 3,325,056

.8. Pat. No. 3,326,416.

BACKGROUND This invention relates to small hand-held pressurized dispensers such as are used for shaving cream andthe like. The invention particularly involves a dispenser of the kind indicated, wherein several different liquids are stored and kept separate, and can be mixed at the valvemeansduring the dispensing action. 1

A prior dispenser of shaving lather, which effectsa mixing of two separate liquids at the valve means to obtain a heating of the lather, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,326,416. One liquid suitable for such use is hydrogen peroxide; the other liquidcan contain sodium hypophosphite. The reaction of these results in an exothermic nonexplosive decomposition'of the hydrogen peroxide, supplying heat to lathering ingredients whereby the discharge comprises a-heated, foam-forming mixture or lather. Potassium sulfite'may be utilized, to react with the hydrogen peroxide, instead of the sodium hypophosphite.

Other mixing valve arrangements are shown in U.S. Pat.

Nos. 3,217,936; 3,272,389; and 3,325,056. Some'of the prior devices had an optional featurewhereby either a mixing of the two liquids could be effected or else there could be a discharge of only one of the liquids, depending on how the valving mechanism was actuated. While the prior devices were operative in most circumstances and enjoyed various degrees I of success, the valves and dispensers-as shown were-either complicated and costly, difiicult to manufacture,'not fully reliable when in extended use, or 'else lacked convenience of operation. The valve arrangement had, as a rule, a multiplicity of parts which necessitated considerable tooling, inventories, and assembly labor. Where the movements were complicated, or depended on critical values of resilience there ensued unreliability of operation, malfunctioning, etc. If critical dimensions were involved, there was in addition the matter of added cost.

SUMMARY The above disadvantages and drawbacks of prior, mixingtype dispensers are obviated by the present invention, one object being to provide a novel and improved multiple-container dispenser and optional or selecting-type mixing valve therefor components characterized by simple, time-proved movements whereby there is achieved an especially low cost, an improved and reliable performance, and a simple option operation I enabling either a single liquid to be discharged, or else a mixture of two liquids. I

This is accomplished by the provision of a simple molded plastic, tubular valve housing having at one end a poppet valve seat and having intermediate its ends a cylindrical slide valve bore. One end portion of the housing, that having the poppet valve seat, is secured in the mounting cup or closure of the pressurized container and the other end portion carries, communicates with, and is sealed to the neck of a flexible bag disposed in the container. A longitudinally movable valve stem in the housing has a tubular projecting end portion through which'the discharge passes, and has a valve shoulder at the base of the tubular portion, said shoulder being engageable with the poppet valve seat. Another, spool portion of the stem engages the cylindrical bore of the valve housing, to constitute therewith a slide valve. Either one or else both valves are open when the stem is depressed, and for a deeply depressed condition flow occurs from the flexible bag axially through said housing, and from the container area which is exterior to the bag, through a sidewall passage of the valve housing into the latter to mix with the first-mentioned flow. The mixture passes out of the housing through the poppet valve seat and through the tubular end portion of the stem. For a shallow depressed position of the valve stem the liquid from either one of the containers (depending on the particular embodiment) can be shut off to allow flow from only the other one. The stem shoulder is an effective seal when the stem is not depressed. The valving member is a single, simple molded piece. Besides such piece there is only the valve housing, a simple spring, and a washerlike poppet valve seat member making up the valve assembly.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an improved mixing valve and dispenser as above set forth, wherein the likelihood of undesired leakage or inadvertent mixing of the plurality of liquids is greatly minimized if not completely eliminated, and wherein only one of the valve devices is called on to withstand relatively highunidirectional pressures as effected in the container by the pressurized substance.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary axial sectional view of a simplified, hand-held pressure-type dispenser with optional mixing or nonmixing feature as provided by the invention. The parts are shown in the storage or nondischarging condition.

FIG. 2 is a transverse section taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary axial sectional view of a dispenser constituting another embodiment of the invention.

P10. 4 is a fragmentary axial sectional view of a dispenser constituting yet another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a transverse section taken on line 5-5 of F IG. 4.

P16. 6 is a fragmentary view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section, showing a modification based on FIGS. 4 and 5.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a pressurized container 10 including an upper shoulder portion 12 which supports a mounting cup 14 of the type having a raised central cuplike portion 16. Secured in the raised portion 16 is a tubular plastic valve housing 18 having a thicker top edge or rim 20 which is secured in place by spun-in or clinched portions 22.

The raised portion 16 of the mounting cup 14 has a central opening or discharge passage 24 through which there extends a vertically movable valve stem 26 having a valving shoulder 28 which is engageable with a valve seat or diaphragm in the form of a flat washerllke member 30 clamped between the top rim 20 of the valve housing and the top wall of the raised 1 mounting portion 16.

The valve stem 26 has a hollow upper portion 32 on which there is carried a depress button 34 having a horizontally extending nozzle 36 provided with a discharge passage 38 communicating with the bore of the stern portion 32. The depress bottom 34 is movable in a stationary body member 40 of the actuator, said body member having a lower enlarged rim e2 which embraces an annular bead formation 44 of the container, constituting a joint between the mounting cup 14 and the top shoulder portion 12. The upper hollow portion 32 of the valve stem 26 has a side opening 46 which is normally covered or closed by the valve seat member 30 when the stem 26 is in the raised position illustrated.

Within the valve housing 18 is a valve return spring 48 which engages an internal shoulder 50 of the housing and also the underside of the valving shoulder 28 of the stem, thereby to yieldably hold the latter in the raised sealing or nondischarging position of HG. 1. Carried by the lower, reduceddiameter portion 51 of the valve housing 18 is an inner container 52 whose neck portion 54 is press-fitted on the housing as shown. The inner container 52 is of flexible plastic substance whereby it may be readily collapsed.

The outer and inner containers 10, 52 contain the liquids which are to be mixed and/or discharged. For example, the outer container may contain a shaving cream preparation and also a propellant such as Freon or equivalent well-known substance. The inner container 52 may contain the hydrogen peroxide, if the dispenser is to be used to produce a heated lather. Included in the outer container will be also sodium hypophosphite or potassium sulfite.

In accordance with the present invention, in conjunction with the poppet-type valve 28;, 30 there is provided a slide or spool-type valve arrangement associated with the valve stem 26, so arranged that an optional mixing or a selective discharge of the dispenser contents may be had. For example, the user may discharge only the shaving cream preparation contained in the outer container 10 without mixing the same with the hydrogen peroxide of the inner container 52. Or, the user may at his option discharge a mixture of both liquids, from both of the containersll), 52.

In effecting this, the valve housing 18 has a side port 56in a fitting 57 which is disposed approximately intermediate the ends of the housing, immediately above the top rim portion of the container neck 54. Connected withthe fitting 57 is a dip tube or siphon 59, extending to the bottom of the container 10. The valve stem 26 includes a lower portion 58 of smaller diameter than the upper hollow portion 32, arranged to have a sliding fit in the bore 60 of the portion 51 of the valve housing. Also, the lower part 58 of the valve stem has a recessed or slim stem portion 62 which is normally disposed above the port 56 of the valve housing 18. In addition to the foregoing, the lower portion 51 of the valve housing is provided with a side groove 64 which extends from the bottom end to a location closely adjacent but not so as to join the side port 56.

Normally, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the side port 56 of the valve housing is closed by the lower portion 58 of the valve stem. Accordingly, none of the liquid in the outer container 10 can be discharged or passed through the side port 56. Also, the lower end of the valve stem portion 58 closes the bore 60 of the valve housing portion 51 whereby liquid from the inner container 52 is prevented from being discharged. Simultaneously with these conditions, the valve shoulder 28 is seated against the valve seat 30, closing the discharge poppet valve.

When it is desired to discharge only the contents of the container 10, the depress button 34 is pushed in only part way, bringing the recess 62 of the stem 26 in communication with the side port 56 and dip tube 59. The bore 60 of the lower portion of the valve housing will still be closed, whereupon there will only be a discharge from the container 10, comprising the shaving preparation with the propellant and hypophosphite or sulfite, while the peroxide in the inner container 52 will remain inactive. Accordingly, the user will receive cold shaving preparation or foam. I

If it is desired to have a heated foam, the user merely depresses the button 34 to the rbllest extent. This will shift the valve stem 26 downward to a greater extent where the side recess 62 of the valve stem will also communicate with the groove 64 in the lower housing portion 53. In consequence, communication will be established between the contents of the inner container 52 and the upper portion of the valve housing bore, in addition to the communication established between such bore and the container It) via the dip tube. At the same time, the poppet valve 28, 30 will be open, whereupon there will occur a mixture-type discharge from the nozzle 36. The propellant in the container 10, in exerting inward pressure on the walls of the collapsible inner container 52 will serve to eject the liquid from the inner container during the mixing type discharge.

At the time that no discharge occurs from the dispenser, as for the storage position illustrated in FIG. 1, there will be little tendency for the two liquids of the containers 10, 52 to be forced past the sliding or spool valve arrangement 58, 60 by virtue of the'fact that the pressures within the inner container 52 and exterior to the same are substantially identical, whereby there is an equalization of pressures between the side port 56 of the valve housing and the lower bore portion 60 thereof.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 3. This arrangement is generally similar to that of FIGS. 1 and 2, except that it is not necessary to depress the valve stem as far as in FIG. 1, in order to obtain a mixing type discharge. in H0. 3, similar components have been given similar reference characters. The valve tubular housing is slightly different, and has been designated 18a. in FIG. 1, the valve housing 18 had the port 56 and lower groove 64 located one below the other, at the same side of the housing. In FIG. 3, the valve housing 18a has its side port 56a located in the left wall as viewed in the figure, whereas the longitudinal groove 64a is located at a substantially diametrically opposite location, in the right wall. The upper end of the groove 640 may be at the same level as the lowermost portion of the side port 56a, whereby a mixing discharge will occur as soon as the spool portion 58 of the valve stem 26 clears the top of the port 56a. Thus, the obtaining of a mixed discharge does not require that the valve stem 26 be depressed to as great an extent as with the embodiment ofFlGS. 1 and 2.

As with the embodiment of FIG. 1, discharge of only the liquid in the container 10 occurs for a shallow depressing movement of the valve stem 26, whereas the mixing type discharge occurs when the stem is depressed to a greater extent.

Yet another embodiment of the invention wherein discharge of liquid only from the inner container can occur by itself, in addition to a mixing type discharge, is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. For the construction in this figure the mixing type discharge requires that the dispenser be inverted and that the valve stem be fully depressed. For discharge of the contents of only the inner container, the dispenser may be held upright, and the valve stem may be depressed only a slight amount. ln FIGS. 4 and 5, components similar to those already described have been given similar reference characters. As shown, there is a tubular molded valve housing 18b which is held in the mounting portion 16band clamps the valve seat or diaphragm 30. The valve housing 18b has a side port 56b at a relatively high location, as compared with the side ports of the embodiments of FIGS. 1-3, and has no dip tube connected with the side port 56b. Thus, the dispenser is adapted for operation in an inverted portion when the liquid in the outer container 10 is to be discharged through the side port 5611.

The valve stem 26b having the hollow upper portion 32b, is provided with an intermediate reduced-diameter portion 66 around which there is carried a spool valve member 68 of generally cylindrical configuration, with a side cut 70. The side cut 70 accommodates a keying rib 72 which is formed on the inner sidewall of the valve housing 181) to prevent turning of the spool 68. A valve return spring 23 engages the spool valve member 68 and also the internal shoulder 50b of the valve housing, thereby to normally yieldably hold the valve stem 26b in the raised nondischarging position. A side groove 64b in the lower bore of the valve housing 18b establishes communication between the interior or bore of the valve housing and the interior of the inner container 52. The spool valve element 68 normally closes the side port 56b of the valve housing whereby no communication normally exists between the interior of the valve housing and the interior of the outer container 10. With the dispenser in upright position, a slight depressing movement of the valve stem 26 will open the poppet valve 28b, 30, enabling a discharge of liquid to occur from the inner container 52, and as the discharge continues, the inner container will collapse under the pressure of the propellant in the outer container 101 Thus there'is had a nonmixing discharge of only the liquid contents of the inner container 52.

If the user however should desire to obtain a'mixture-type discharge, then the dispenser is inverted and the depress button which actuates the valve stem 26b is fully depressed. This will establish communication through the side port 56!) between the interior of the valve housing 18b and the outer container 10, and since communication is already established between the interior of the valve housing and the inner container 52 the liquids of both containers will mix as they are being discharged through the upper hollow portion 32b of the valve stem 26b.

The embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 may be arranged for operation only when held upright by the provision of a dip tube. In FIG. 6 the valve housing 18c has a side fitting 566 to which the dip tube 59 is attached. The housing 180 is other wise the same as the housing 18b of FIGS. 4 and 5.

It will now be seen from the foregoing that l have provided a novel and improved, especially simple type of optional mixing and discharge valve arrangement whereby the user has the option of discharging either a single liquid from either one of the two containers, or else a mixture of the two liquids from both said containers. Y

The embodiments of the invention as illustrated herein' are seen to be especially simple, having'few partswhich may be economically fabricated and assembled, and the construction and operation are straightforward and foolprooflthe mixing or nonmixing being a function of the extent to which the depress button and valve stem are depressed or actuated.

Variations and modificationsare possible, and'portions 'of the improvement may be used without others.

lclaim:

1. In a hand-held dispenser for liquid-type products, in combination:

a. an upright tubular valve housing having a vertical bore and a pair of axially spaced apart, substantially annular valving portions disposed at different locations along'said bore and arranged to be concentric with the axis of the valve housing, through which valving portions liquid passes in flowing through the housing, said housing further having a port through its sidewall at one of said valving portions;

b. a vertically movable valve stem axially slidable in the valve housing and passing through both valving portions thereof, said stern having a tubular portion projecting from one end of the housing and through the other of said annular valving portions, and having a poppet valve means comprising an annular shoulder engaged with said other valving portion to close the same when the stem is fully raised;

c. said tubular portion of the valve stem having a side passage adjacent the shoulder of the stem, adapted to be disposed inside the housing when the stem is fully depressed, thereby to conduct liquid from the interior of the housing into the tubular stem portion;

with said one valving portion and said sidewall port, for blocking the flow of liquid through said sidewall port when the valve stem is fully raised and the shoulder of the stern closes said other valving portion;

spool means on the valve stem, slidable in and cooperable e. said spool means enabling liquid to pass into the valve housing through said sidewall port when the spool means moves away from the said port and the side passage of the valve stem becomes disposed inside the valve housing as the stem is fully depressed; means in the bore of the valve housing, enabling liquid to flow upward inside the bore between the walls thereof and the outside of the spool means and thence into the valve housing when the stem is fully depressed, said one valving portion of the housing and said spool means cooperating to prevent said upward liquid flow between the outside of the spool means and the walls of the bore when the valve stem is in its fully raised position; and

g. a container connected with the lower end of the valve housing to supply liquid to the bore thereof below said spool means.

2. A dispenser as in claim 1, wherein:

a. said container comprises a flexible collapsible bag having a discharging neck portion secured around the lower end of the valve housing;

. a rigid pressure-resistant container enclosing said bag and valve housing, said container having a neck portion secured to the valve housing at a location near the said other valving portion; and

said sidewall port of the housing communicating with the interior of said container.

. A dispenser as in claim 1, wherein:

a. said spool means and one valving portion shut off the upward flow of liquid from the bag to said valve housing prior to the spool means covering said sidewall port as the valve stem moves upward.

4. A valve construction as in claim 1, wherein:

a. said one valving portion comprises a cylindrical inner wall slidablyengaged by the spool means; and

b. said one valving portion having a internal longitudinal groove extending from the vicinity of said port to the bottom end of the valve housing to provide a bypass for allowing fluid to flow past the spool means when the stem is fully depressed.

5. In a hand-held dispenser for liquid-type products, in combination: v

a. an upright tubular valve housing having a vertical bore and a pair of axially spaced apart, substantially annular valving portions disposed at different locations along said bore and arranged to be concentric with the axis of the valve housing, through which valving portions liquid passes in flowing through the housing, said housing further having a port through its sidewall at one of the said valving portions;

b. a vertically movable valve stem axially slidable in the valve housing and passing through both valving portions thereof, said stem having a tubular portion projecting from one end of the housing and through the other of said annular valving portions, and having a poppet valve means comprising an annular shoulder engaged with said other valving portion to close the same when the stem is fully raised;

c. said tubular portion of the valve stem having a side passage adjacent the shoulder of the stem, adapted to be disposed inside the housing when the stem is fully depressed, thereby to conduct liquid from the interior of the housing into the tubular stern portion;

. spool means on the valve stem, slidable in and cooperable with said one valving portion and said sidewall port, for blocking the flow of liquid through said sidewall port when the valve stem is fully raised and the shoulder of the stem closes said other valving portion;

c. said spool means enabling liquid to pass into the valve housing through said sidewall port when the spool means moves away from the said port and the side passage of the valve stem becomes disposed inside the valve housing as the stem is fully depressed;

f. means in the bore of the valve housing, enabling liquid to flow upward inside the bore between the walls thereof a container connected with the lower end of the valve housing to supply liquid to the bore thereof below said spool means;

h. said spool means comprising a cylindrical member separate from the valve stem and having a central bore through which the stem extends;

i. said spool member having a radial cut in it, equal in width to the spool bore; and

said valve housing having a longitudinal internal rib received in said radial cut and keying the spool member against turning whereby it is fixedly rotatably oriented with respect to said sidewall port. 

